"Crash" pileup continues in L.A. court

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Almost two years after
it won the best picture Oscar, "Crash" has another lawsuit to
add to its list.

On Friday, director Paul Haggis and fellow screenwriter
Robert Moresco filed suit against producer Bob Yari in Los
Angeles Superior Court, claiming they are owed more than $4.7
million in profits.

Haggis directed and produced the film, and co-wrote the
Oscar-winning script with Moresco, who was an uncredited
producer.

The latest lawsuit involved a December 2002 "producers'
contingent compensation" contract Haggis and Moresco entered
into with Yari in which they each agreed to a three-tiered
compensation package depending on "Crash's" financial success,
according to the lawsuit.

But Haggis and Moresco claim a July audit revealed that
they are owed at least $4.7 million in adjusted gross receipts
for the film, which brought in $54.5 million domestic and $43.8
million overseas.

The two allege that "certain bogus charges" were inserted
into statements and that Yari did so when he "began to realize
the order of magnitude of the success of 'Crash' and that Yari
would have to pay a large share of the upside unless new, bogus
deductions were inserted."

Yari's attorney could not be reached for comment.

Haggis and Moresco seek a court order imposing a
constructive trust on assets held by Yari for "Crash."
Continued...